The Arts in NYC Fall 2012

Complexions was definitely an eye-opening experience that forever changed my view of modern dance. The synchronized, precise movements of the dancers combined with the wide variety of different music styles to satisfy everyone’s taste in dance.

At first, I thought that the dancing would be slow and boring, because that was my impression of the first dance, THE CURVE. I didn’t really enjoy the music or the introductory dance routine. However, after the intermission when certain people got awarded for their work in contemporary dance, the dances got more livelier and the stories they told were more interesting.

One of the dances I liked was MEMORIES, where the two street boys danced to the song Time After Time. It was really interesting seeing this popular song being danced to in this new style that I’ve never seen before. And the musician didn’t seem to steal any attention towards himself, allowing the audience to focus on the dancers.

Then, most of the performances with Christina Cooling (the Ukrainian) were awesome as she was certainly the star of the show. Her love story in SUBJECT TO CHANGE really portrayed the immense skill a dancer has to contain to incorporate a story into her movements. But really, every performance she was in was an enjoyable performance.

Another really good performance was the finale, PRETTY GRITTY SUITE, when the professional dancers and the students danced together in one big collaboration of beautiful costumes, tempo, music, and choreography. The incorporation of tambourines into the performance just proved how talented these people were, as they became musicians as well as dancers.

Overall, after the mood of the performances went up and the songs became recognizable, the performances really became mind-blowing. It was amazing that we got to watch the show from so close, allowing us to see the sweat-drenched, yet always smiling faces of the dancers. It’s definitely something I would want to watch again in the future.

Complexions was definitely a very pleasant surprise to see. I had originally thought that we would be seeing weird dance choreography and dancers essentially writhing on stage like the “contemporary” things you see in movies. Instead, I was amazed to find that the dances were, although different, all very cohesive pieces and I really enjoyed the performance.

I was definitely a skeptic as I walked into the theater but when the performance ended I was definitely a believer in Contemporary ballet. It has all of the professionalism as traditional ballet but also livens up the originally stiff movements by incorporating different styles of music and I think also different genres of dance such as social dance and street dancing.

My favorite piece was the second one they performed called “Memories” where the dancers danced to an acoustic guitar. That particular dance stood out to me because It was the most different one from my expectations. It might have been because the dancers were dressed in casual wear, but the dance reminded me of some break-dancing or street dance performances I’d seen before. I liked how well the choreography was blended and all the moves transitioned into each other really nicely. The guitar was a little bit distracting but it was nice to have a live accompaniment to the dance.

About two weeks ago when we were discussing the difference between professionals and non-professionals, it was mentioned that there would be a difference of at least 10,000 hours in amount of experience or practice. I believed that piece of information but I only really got to understand it fully when I saw the dancers perform along with the students from New Orleans. The students were very talented and some of the things they did were really great but there was definitely a difference in I guess the refinement of the moves they used in their dance as compared to the movements of the dancers from the company. This isn’t to say that they don’t have the potential to be as great as the other dancers but just that the company dancers were definitely more fit both physically and experience wise. There was more fluidity to the movements of the company dancers and the way they held their poses in the dance were more steady and the lines they made were more clear. That is where I understood the whole idea of the 10,000 hours and that practice really does make perfect.

Overall, I really enjoyed the performance and I was really happy seeing it. My hands were definitely red from clapping too hard and my face was stretched from smiling to much but it was really worth it and I’m glad I was able to see it.

Sitting through Complexions was not only an eye-opening experience for me, it was one that encompassed all five of my senses-hearing an array of musical instruments and voices in various genres, seeing the most talented young performers move their elastic bodies in such an effortless way, smelling the sweat drip off their bodies (we had front row seats of course), and feeling the energy of the Joyce Theater-one of amazement, astonishment, confusion and complexity.

The Complexions performance can be summed up succinctly and concisely to COMPLEX. Multi-generational, multicultural, and filled with multimedia, this performance is a must see by all ages!

However, as I first got to my seat, I was a bit nervous for the show. The only other dance performance I’ve seen before was Alvin Alley and I hated that to say the least. Maybe it was partially due to the fact that I was young, or that I was seeing nude dancer with my mom that made me feel uncomfortable, but I remember counting down the minutes until the show’s completion. So sitting in the Joyce before the show began, I was disinterested constantly checking my phone, and sitting with my head up as the seats we had were so close. The opening scene was a disappointment. I disliked the music, disliked the dances, and thought this would be the start to a long night-one filled with movements I didn’t and could’nt understand for the life of me; one filled with boredom and disinterested.

Yet after the curtain came down and the lights dimmed once again, the show really began. The first act fooled me! The rest of the evening was nothing like it. Awards were given to major contributors of Complexions, applauses were loud and lively, and the energy of the room immediately changed. I shifted gears and turned on a positive attitude to the show and boy was I right for doing so.

The show consisted of short segments of different dances, performers and costumes and even some cool visual lights. The music in each piece was different, the costumes were all bright and catchy, and the dancers were the most talented people I’ve seen. What I loved most about the performance was the addition of the New Orleans dance group. The energy and loveliness they brought to the show from these young kids was so inspirational. They had moves and flexibilites as if they were professionals which was truly amazing

All in all, once the show began, I loved it. The intermission was necessary as the show was long and pretty stagnant however it was well worth it. I enjoyed watching different ages, genders and cultures comes together to produce a show filled with talent and creativity.

I remember a few classes ago before the storm hit, we were talking about how it takes 10,000 hours to truly become successful at a certain endeavor in the arts or sports. I think it is safe to say this girl did not put in her 10,000 hours. I was thinking that maybe clips like these can sometimes be discouraging for those who try to make it in the industry. I mean, this girl who has minimal talent at best is getting all this infamy and notoriety, yet those who actually have somewhat decent skills in singing or dancing are being cast away for these gimmicks like Nicole Westbrook. I think the question now is: are producers and artists on the search for real, raw talent or are they only interested in promoting stupid songs so they can get some recognition, even though they are being shown in a negative light? Is the attention worth it if you are making mediocre songs?  Hope you enjoy!

Absolute perfection …

Hello!
I just heard from our guest speaker, Pat, and he cannot make it tomorrow so class is cancelled. He will come (hopefully) next week. Take care and stay warm!–Kara

Hello,
Dr. Eversley was able to reschedule for “The Piano Lesson” at the Signature Theater for Nov 21st. I’ve created a sign-up page so we know how many tickets are needed. You’ll notice the show is the night before Thanksgiving so please take that into consideration. The show starts at 7:30 pm and over by 10:30. Please go here and check the box only if you can make it.

Hello Everyone,

I sure hope you and your families made it through the storm without too much damage and hardship.

We can’t reschedule our visit to see August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson,”  so if any of you are able to come out tonight, please meet me in the upstairs lobby at the theater at 7PM.  The Signature theater is located at 480 W. 42nd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.

We have plans to see Complexions Dance Company on November 15, so at least we’ll have another big outing before Aida at the Metropolitan Opera next month.

Kara will be teaching class next week while I’m away, so please reading the links she’s posted.

Take care and LOTS OF KISSES!

Professor Eversley

Hello,
I hope this finds you all well, please email me (if you can, that is!) and let me know if I can help in anyway. Next week I’ll be leading class and I have two essays I’d like you to read, which I’ll post under the reading tab. The first essay is by Tiziana Terranova and she considers cultural production (such as art) in a digital age. The second is an article that applies some of her ideas to internet privacy and piracy.

Also, we will have a different guest than I initially listed on the syllabus–Pat Byrne will be coming to share his documentary about CBGB’s and to discuss being a musician in NYC.

Again, please feel free to contact me if you need help navigating school post-storm.

See you soon,
Kara

Being the procrastinator that I am, I somehow managed to not go out the entire week and ended up hoping to write my review on our visit to Greg Broom’s studio. But that obviously didn’t work out after the look of utter horror and denial I received from Professor Eversley when I revealed to her my intentions on writing about the studio visit from two weeks ago. Anyway, so finally I accepted the fact that the only solution to this gigantic problem of mine was to, well, go out and therefore during today’s club hours, I made my way to the Rubin’s Museum of Art.

For some reason, I have always deemed museums to be places covering vast areas and overwhelming with people and pieces of art. Rubin’s museum, however, was exactly contrary to what I had expected. It covered only a small space and the general ambience was that of some elegant classy restaurant rather than of a museum. The first floor had scanty pieces of art on display and instead a luxurious café and a bookshop covered most of the area. Bedazzled by the overall sophisticated and quaint atmosphere, I took the fancy staircase up to the second floor that displayed an exhibition of Tibetan art.

As I walked around looking at the sculptures of Buddha, there was one called the ‘Yellow Tara’ that I found quite intriguing. It portrayed a goddess, gracefully poised in a sitting position: With large earrings, glittering necklaces, headdress and bracelets, the goddess almost gained the attention of everyone that passed by her. However, it was not the extravagant ornaments that drew me to the sculpture, but the gesture of her hands proved to be the most captivating for me. Her left hand gesticulated an act of giving (varadamudra) whereas the right hand was positioned downwards with just the palm visible and the index finger and the thumb formed a sort of circle, which is the interpretation of intellectual discussion or flow of energy in Tibetan culture.

Another aspect that struck me about the museum was how the people there were truly engrossed in the paintings. As I walked around, looking at different sculptures I came across this woman who was deeply absorbed in gazing at one of the sculptures on exhibit. Seated directly in front of the statue, her eyes seemed to plunge deep inside the piece of art and she just gazed at it without even blinking. This made me think about the words that were imprinted on the entrance of the museum

“The emotion generated by viewing a great work of art is very much like falling in love. The passion radiating from the art overtakes us with its power and beauty. Its truly a heart connection”

In my life, I have seen many paintings that I instantly liked or ones that spoke to me but never have I experienced an instance where I just saw a piece of art and could not take my eyes off it. As I was researching for my presentation on Mark Rothko I came across one of his quotes similar to the one I read in the museum “The fact that people break down and cry when confronted with my pictures shows that I can communicate those basic human emotions. The people who weep before my pictures are having the same religious experience I had when painting them”

I remember reading this and thinking how can someone break down by merely looking at a painting or a piece of art, but seeing this woman today made me realize that art definitely has the potential to truly touch a person’s heart and make him or her ponder on aspects of life that he or she may not have been able to do without the help of that piece of art.

I hope in near future, I too will be able to discover such a painting that truly speaks to me and I can stand for hours in front of it and not get tired of it.